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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-04-28MINUTES CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Huntington Center Mall Community Room 7777 Edinger Avenue Huntington Beach, California Monday, April 28, 1995 Mayor Leipzig called the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to order at 7.30 a.m. in the Community Room, Huntington Center Mall. CITY COUNCILIREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ROLL CALL PRESENT: Bauer, Leipzig, Dettloff, Green, Garofalo ABSENT: Harman, Sullivan Mayor Leipzig welcomed the members of the audience to the adjourned Council meeting called to conduct the Mayor's Business Forum, hosted by the Huntington Center Mall. The meeting was called to meet with members of the business community regarding the status of the Edinger Corridor. Mayor Leipzig asked each participant to introduce themselves: Participants were as follows: George Alexander, Der Wienerschnitzel Frank lachellim, Blazing Pages Anthony Grajeda, Legal Service Bureau Delia Chadwell, Huntington Beach Center Mall George Hands, McDonnell Douglas West Federal Credit Union Dolores Stiefel and Jada Shortino, Piercing Pagoda Jack Caswell, Bill Maxey Toyota Avak Ourishian, Z-Watch Chuck Saxton, Great Earth Vitamins Jane Metz, Lin's Hallmark Stella Frideman, Lin's Hallmark Abbas Salahi, Espresso Emporium Dian Thomas, TAMARAC Advisory Group Joann Boza, First Interstate Bank Carl Ding, Golden Spoon Yogurt Caren Thompson, Glendale Federal Bank Eleen Brown and Russ Brown, Carpenters Collection Giselle White, IMA Service Susan Cowan, Hudson -Goodman Jewelers Aaron Palmer, The Guitar Meister Caro Z., C Diamond Jewelers Philip Inglee, Liberty National Bank Jerald R. Kuhn, Automobile Club Dr. Glenn Carter, Optometrist 208 Page 2 - Council/Agency Minutes - 04/28/95 G. Wayne Knowles, Campbell Nissan Mark Currie, Gold Star International Cyhnthia L. Loomer, Irwin Architectural Group Carl Irwin, Irwin Architectural Group Klara Eschenburg, Manfred Eschenburg, Unit No. 19 Dolores Bischof, Cyndie Bischof, Unit No. 68 Maxine Murdy Trotter and Janette Trotter Ditkowsky, Freeway Industrial Park, Inc. Warren Sager, U.S. Post Office Chris Butcher, See's Candies Dorothy Rhine, Unit No. 151 Staff members in attendance were: Administration Department Michael T. Uberuaga, City Administrator Ray Silver, Assistant City Administrator Economic Development Department Jim Lamb, Project Manager, Tom Andrusky, Assistant Project Manager Eli Naffah, Development Specialist Denise Wyllie, Office Specialist Community Development Department Melanie Fallon, Community Development Director Herb Fauland, Associate Planner Linda Niles, Senior Planner (Advance Planning) Brian James, Assistant Planner Department of Public Works Les Jones, Public Works Director Bob Eichblatt, City Engineer Police Department Luis Ochoa, West Area Commander Mayor Leipzig announced that a packet of information had been prepared for this meeting. The packet contained printed material as follows: Letter from Police Chief Lowenberg listing free services designed to simplify security needs. Letter from ,lames Lamb, Business Development Project Manager regarding services that the Business Development Division provides to the business community to help businesses succeed. Communication titled "A Lot Went Into Becoming Number One" regarding the city being named "Safest Big City in America." 209 Page 3 - Council/Agency Minutes - 04/28/95 Communication dated August 8, 1994, - "Riding wave of business development in Surf City" by Tom Andrusky, Assistant Project Manager, Economic Development Department. Excerpt from California Business dated April 1993 regarding the City of Huntington Beach Ranking No. 1 overall as the best big city for business in California. Pamphlet titled "City of Huntington Beach 1995 Community Overview" The 1995 Visitors Guide - Huntington Beach, California Pamphlet - Huntington Beach Small Business Assistance Center Pamphlet - Welcome to the City of Huntington Beach Overview of the Draft General Plan, dated April 1995, prepared by City of Huntington Beach The Agenda topics listed: City Overview by City Administrator Michael T. Uberuaga, General Plan Update by Community Development Director Melanie Fallon, Edinger Corridor Report by Hank Cunningham, Consultant, Cunningham and Associates. City Overview The City Administrator presented a slide report on the importance to the city of the Edinger Corridor. He reviewed the demographics of the Edinger Corridor, stating that the Huntington Center Mall was integral to the Edinger Corridor. The City Administrator reviewed the city projects that are in the planning stages, including Huntington Center, Holly-Seacliff Development, Ruby's at the End of the Pier, Waterfront -Marriott complex (possible timeshares). He reviewed a slide presentation on why Huntington Beach is one of the best cities to live in the United States. Melanie Fallon, Community Development Director, addressed the participants regarding the importance of the General Plan stating that it was important to hear and receive input on the General Plan; that the General Plan is the long term vision for the city. The Overview of the Draft General Plan was distributed to all meeting participants. Herb Fauland, Associate Planner, referred to the document Overview of the Draft General Plan - April 1995. He reviewed the seven elements of a General Plan and the optional elements which the city has chosen to encompass, including an Economic Element and Urban Design Element. Brian James, Assistant Planner, presented a report on the proposed changes in the General Plan. He asked the participants to refer to their General Plan Maps in their packets. 210 Page 4 - Council/Agency Minutes - 04/28195 Edinger Corridor Report Hank Cunningham, consultant, Cunningham and Associates, presented a slide report regarding the importance of the Edinger Corridor to the city. He reviewed the demographics of the city as it relates to the Edinger Corridor stating that the Huntington Center Mall was integral to the Edinger Corridor. He reported on why the Huntington Center Mall cannot attempt to compete on the same basis as the Westminster Mall. He reviewed the Huntington Center Redevelopment Project Area and explained the current status of the fund balance. Mr. Cunningham presented a conceptual drawing done about five years ago showing the use of street frontage shops to bring the mall out into the street. He stated that possible public draws were movie theaters and operations such as the Tustin Market were also ways to bring in shopping that is ancillary to the entertainment offered. He spoke regarding the options the city may consider such as community consensus building tenant attraction, involvement of Redevelopment but most importantly to retain existing businesses. Mr. Cunningham suggested that perhaps Redevelopment could help with public improvement needs. Phil Inglee, President, Liberty National Bank, questioned why the city could not focus its attention on the northern portion of the city as it did on the downtown area. The Mayor and City Administrator responded regarding the city's attempts in this area including Economic Development Committee meetings and the membership of the northern area represented on the General Plan Advisory Committee. Mr. Inglee stated that something like the Marshall Plan is needed for this area as he believed it was in danger of having the first attributes of a blighted area. The Assistant City Administrator spoke regarding the city's current efforts to focus on this area. Councilmember Garofalo stated the need for the business owners to be vocal and the land owners cooperative. Councilmember Bauer stated that the City Council, Economic Planning Committee and the Economic Development Committee should hold their next meetings at the north end of town and develop an agenda. The.Mayor responded to a question regarding what the city is doing to bring dollars to Huntington Beach citing items such as the Reader Board sign. Les Jones, Public Works Director, introduced Bob Eichblatt, City Engineer. Mr. Jones addressed the group regarding Public Works Department involvement, including the Smart Street Project, creative landscaping plans and the progress on the Gothard/Hoover Street project. Councilmember Garofalo spoke regarding the importance of vehicular access to the community such as Orange County's plans for bridges. A participant spoke in opposition to plans for high density at Warner Avenue and Beach Boulevard stating reasons why such density did not appear feasible. 211 Page 5 - Council/Agency Minutes - 04/28/95 Jack Caswell, representing Bill Maxey Toyota, stated that the auto dealers would like to keep the Beach -Edinger Corridor as a common corridor and not break it up; that a "white hole" be planned for the present time along the Edinger Avenue -Beach Boulevard Commercial area and a Specific Plan prepared. He stated his fear that Huntington Beach has become an island; that Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway are the only access and other routes are needed. The Mayor responded regarding other vehicular accesses which he stated he believed were unlikely to occur. The Community Development Director spoke regarding the Gnodes" and "mixed uses" on Beach Boulevard -Edinger which needed to be explored with the business community as she believed it is the most controversial proposal. Mr. Caswell stated the reasons why many auto dealers could not be moved and why the focus must be to improve what the dealers have at their current location. Mr. Caswell thanked the city and the Economic Development Department for the upcoming promotional automobile event that will be attracting 10,000 persons to the city to purchase cars. In response to a question regarding the Huntington Beach Mail, Della Chadwelf stated that Huntington Center is within a week or two of announcing new leases on the former J. C. Penny's and Barker Brothers sites. In response to a question, 4ww5ii�n was held regarding the'sniicipated timelines for' improvements as it had been commented upon earlier that the downtown improvements took 20 to 25 years to occur. The Assistant City Administrator responded that the Edinger Corridor would take about 5 years and Beach Boulevard will take a lot of work. He stated that money must be generated. Councilmember Bauer responded as to his commitment as a Councilmember and stated that the target area should be within the next two years as a new election cycle will begin then which affects plans. A business owner stressed the difficulty of explaining to his customers where the Huntington Center Mall is; that there must be more signage on the freeway. City Engineer Eichblatt responded that these comments will be studied. Mrs. Bischof responded that she has the same visibility problem at her business at Old World. A businessman spoke regarding the difficulty of getting into the downtown area as in his business he brings many people into the city and wants to show his visitors this area of the city. Joyce Riddell, Chamber of Commerce representative, spoke regarding the Chamberas current and future efforts for city business promotion. Ms. Riddell brought Council's attention to the pamphlet in the packet, entitled Small Business Administration. 212 Page 6 - Council/Agency Minutes - 04/28/95 Mayor Leipzig extended the City Council's appreciation to the members of the community in attendance and to the Huntington Beach Mall for hosting the Mayor's Business Forum. ADJOURNMENT - CITY COUNCILIREDENELOPMENT AGENCY The Mayor adjourned the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 1, 1995 in Room B-8, Civic Center, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach.. ATTEST: City Clerk/Clerk 213 CO M-0 Clerk of the Redevelopment Agency and City Cleric and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California r Mayor/Chairman